06 October 2021
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Story Legopheng Maphile
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Photo Supplied
President-Elect for 2021-2023 of the Library and Information Association of South Africa, Charlie Molepo.
It is with great pride that the UFS congratulates Charlie Molepo, Deputy Director: Research and Scholarly Communications in the
UFS Library and Information Services, on his election as
LIASA President-Elect for 2021-2023. Molepo will serve one term as President-Elect and then automatically assumes the position of President of the association for the next term (2023 until 2025).
LIASA is a professional organisation with professional body status, representing all institutions and people working in libraries and information services in South Africa. It is an organisation for all professionals advocating and supporting the provision of efficient, user-orientated, and excellent library and information services that aspire to equitable access to information for all communities (literate and illiterate) in South Africa. It represents the interests of and promotes the development and image of libraries and information in South Africa at local, provincial, and national level to government and other agencies. LIASA also represents the library and information sector at international level.
Ascending to the top position, Molepo offered himself to the profession as a leader who ‘seeks to grow and develop’ the library industry, gripped by the aftermath of a pandemic and a confluence of economic and social turmoil.
Mr Molepo is a qualified librarian and educator with more than 27 years in the library and information sector, both as practitioner in higher education and the private sector. He is a seasoned all-rounder with highly rated IT skills and experience in IT project management. He is very knowledgeable on skills development in South Africa, having served on the
ETDP SETA Board for two terms.
In his current role within the UFS Library and Information Services, Molepo is responsible for, among others, the implementation of the open access policy and library research output support. With his wealth of experience, Mr Molepo is mentoring and also nurturing talents in the UFS Library and Information Services.
As President-Elect and President, Mr Molepo’s duties will be to lead the association in achieving its objectives and to plan and align activities with the overall LIASA strategy and sector trends and developments.
Mr Molepo made history as the first LIASA President-Elect and President from the Free State, an achievement that comes with opportunities for the University of the Free State and the development of the Free State’s library sector at large.